It's the grand old wet game defined by its famed yellow ball.
You can pass it, catch it and shoot it -- all with just one hand. It's all played in the swimming pool with an eggbeater kick, a skill that allows players to stay high above the water line.
Water polo is an old sport but relatively new in Innisfail, with more than 20 young girls and boys, from the ages of five to 16, all embracing its splendid and unique challenges in the pool.
For two hours last Saturday (Jan. 30) afternoon, the Innisfail Aquatic Centre was the scene of instructional watery fun for more than a dozen young local players from the Innisfail Hurricanes Water Polo Club. Another dozen young players from clubs in Calgary, Strathmore and Okotoks joined them.
For the first hour the coaches helped the young players with basic skills, including treading water, ball throwing and swimming. In the second hour players were broken up into two teams for five-on-five games.
“They like practice but they like playing the games more. They are a little intimidated because they don't know all the kids but they are loosening up and having a good time,” said Quinn Layden, head coach of the Hurricanes, who ran the clinic with assistant coach Emily Tulk. “We want to build our skills and since we only play with players from our own club, it's nice to invite new players so the kids can get used to playing different teams and get to know new people.
“We want to build our program,” he added. “We have a lot of younger kids and we want to move them up and hopefully send teams to tournaments and provincials. That is the grand plan.”
Tulk said while children embraced the clinic's instructional hour, the games presented a special learning opportunity.
“They get a whole different feeling of what an actual competition is like,” she said, noting players were forced to step out of “comfort zones” due to not knowing everyone's names and had to call out numbers for a pass or shot. “They learn sportsmanship and get immersed with the other teams and learn how to work with other people.”
The club will host a second clinic next month before the season ends on March 31. In the meantime, club members will continue to practise on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5 to 6 p.m. Intramural games will continue for the rest of the season.
For more information on the Innisfail Hurricanes Water Polo Club visit the website at www.hurricaneswaterpolo.ca
Quinn Layden
"They like practice but they like playing the games more. They are a little intimidated because they don't know all the kids but they are loosening up and having a good time."
